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being alone with her。 Anselmo told her she might be quite easy on
the score of that suspicion； for he knew that Lothario was in love
with a damsel of rank in the city whom he celebrated under the name of
Chloris； and that even if he were not； his fidelity and their great
friendship left no room for fear。 Had not Camilla； however； been
informed beforehand by Lothario that this love for Chloris was a
pretence； and that he himself had told Anselmo of it in order to be
able sometimes to give utterance to the praises of Camilla herself； no
doubt she would have fallen into the despairing toils of jealousy； but
being forewarned she received the startling news without uneasiness。
The next day as the three were at table Anselmo asked Lothario to
recite something of what he had composed for his mistress Chloris； for
as Camilla did not know her； he might safely say what he liked。
〃Even did she know her；〃 returned Lothario； 〃I would hide nothing；
for when a lover praises his lady's beauty； and charges her with
cruelty； he casts no imputation upon her fair name； at any rate； all I
can say is that yesterday I made a sonnet on the ingratitude of this
Chloris； which goes thus：
SONNET
At midnight； in the silence； when the eyes
Of happier mortals balmy slumbers close；
The weary tale of my unnumbered woes
To Chloris and to Heaven is wont to rise。
And when the light of day returning dyes
The portals of the east with tints of rose；
With undiminished force my sorrow flows
In broken accents and in burning sighs。
And when the sun ascends his star…girt throne；
And on the earth pours down his midday beams；
Noon but renews my wailing and my tears；
And with the night again goes up my moan。
Yet ever in my agony it seems
To me that neither Heaven nor Chloris hears。〃
The sonnet pleased Camilla； and still more Anselmo； for he praised
it and said the lady was excessively cruel who made no return for
sincerity so manifest。 On which Camilla said； 〃Then all that
love…smitten poets say is true？〃
〃As poets they do not tell the truth；〃 replied Lothario； 〃but as
lovers they are not more defective in expression than they are
truthful。〃
〃There is no doubt of that；〃 observed Anselmo； anxious to support
and uphold Lothario's ideas with Camilla； who was as regardless of his
design as she was deep in love with Lothario； and so taking delight in
anything that was his； and knowing that his thoughts and writings
had her for their object； and that she herself was the real Chloris；
she asked him to repeat some other sonnet or verses if he
recollected any。
〃I do；〃 replied Lothario； 〃but I do not think it as good as the
first one； or； more correctly speaking； less bad； but you can easily
judge； for it is this。
SONNET
I know that I am doomed； death is to me
As certain as that thou； ungrateful fair；
Dead at thy feet shouldst see me lying； ere
My heart repented of its love for thee。
If buried in oblivion I should be；
Bereft of life； fame； favour； even there
It would be found that I thy image bear
Deep graven in my breast for all to see。
This like some holy relic do I prize
To save me from the fate my truth entails；
Truth that to thy hard heart its vigour owes。
Alas for him that under lowering skies；
In peril o'er a trackless ocean sails；
Where neither friendly port nor pole…star shows。〃
Anselmo praised this second sonnet too； as he had praised the first；
and so he went on adding link after link to the chain with which he
was binding himself and making his dishonour secure； for when Lothario
was doing most to dishonour him he told him he was most honoured；
and thus each step that Camilla descended towards the depths of her
abasement； she mounted； in his opinion； towards the summit of virtue
and fair fame。
It so happened that finding herself on one occasion alone with her
maid； Camilla said to her； 〃I am ashamed to think； my dear Leonela；
how lightly I have valued myself that I did not compel Lothario to
purchase by at least some expenditure of time that full possession
of me that I so quickly yielded him of my own free will。 I fear that
he will think ill of my pliancy or lightness； not considering the
irresistible influence he brought to bear upon me。〃
〃Let not that trouble you； my lady；〃 said Leonela； 〃for it does
not take away the value of the thing given or make it the less
precious to give it quickly if it be really valuable and worthy of
being prized； nay； they are wont to say that he who gives quickly
gives twice。〃
〃They say also；〃 said Camilla； 〃that what costs little is valued
less。〃
〃That saying does not hold good in your case；〃 replied Leonela； 〃for
love； as I have heard say； sometimes flies and sometimes walks； with
this one it runs； with that it moves slowly； some it cools； others
it burns； some it wounds； others it slays； it begins the course of its
desires； and at the same moment completes and ends it； in the
morning it will lay siege to a fortress and by night will have taken
it； for there is no power that can resist it； so what are you in dread
of； what do you fear； when the same must have befallen Lothario；
love having chosen the absence of my lord as the instrument for
subduing you？ and it was absolutely necessary to complete then what
love had resolved upon； without affording the time to let Anselmo
return and by his presence compel the work to be left unfinished；
for love has no better agent for carrying out his designs than
opportunity； and of opportunity he avails himself in all his feats；
especially at the outset。 All this I know well myself； more by
experience than by hearsay； and some day； senora； I will enlighten you
on the subject； for I am of your flesh and blood too。 Moreover； lady
Camilla； you did not surrender yourself or yield so quickly but that
first you saw Lothario's whole soul in his eyes； in his sighs； in
his words； his promises and his gifts； and by it and his good
qualities perceived how worthy he was of your love。 This； then；
being the case； let not these scrupulous and prudish ideas trouble
your imagination； but be assured that Lothario prizes you as you do
him； and rest content and satisfied that as you are caught in the
noose of love it is one of worth and merit that has taken you； and one
that has not only the four S's that they say true lovers ought to
have； but a complete alphabet； only listen to me and you will see
how I can repeat it by rote。 He is to my eyes and thinking； Amiable；
Brave； Courteous； Distinguished； Elegant； Fond； Gay； Honourable；
Illustrious； Loyal； Manly； Noble； Open； Polite； Quickwitted； Rich； and
the S's according to the saying； and then Tender； Veracious： X does
not suit him； for it is a rough letter； Y has been given already；
and Z Zealous for your honour。〃
Camilla laughed at her maid's alphabet； and perceived her to be more
experienced in love affairs than she said； which she admitted；
confessing to Camilla that she had love passages with a young man of
good birth of the same city。 Camilla was uneasy at this； dreading lest
it might prove the means of endangering her honour； and asked
whether her intrigue had gone beyond words； and she with little
shame and much effrontery said it had； for certain it is that
ladies' imprudences make servants shameless； who； when they see
their mistresses make a false step； think nothing of going astray
themselves； or of its being known。 All that Camilla could do was to
entreat Leonela to say nothing about her doings to him whom she called
her lover； and to conduct her own affairs secretly lest they should
come to the knowledge of Anselmo or of Lothario。 Leonela said she
would； but kept her word in such a way that she confirmed Camilla's
apprehension of losing her reputation through her means； for this
abandoned and bold Leonela； as soon as she perceived that her
mistress's demeanour was not what it was wont to be； had the
audacity to introduce her lover into the house； confident that even if
her mistress saw him she would not dare to expose him； for the sins of
mistresses entail this mischief among others； they make themselves the
slaves of their own servants； and are obliged to hide their laxities
and depravities； as was the case with Camilla； who though she
perceived； not once but many times； that Leonela was with her lover in
some room of the house； not only did not dare to chide her； but
afforded her opportunities for concealing him and removed all
difficulties； lest he should be seen by her husband。 She was unable；
however； to prevent him from being seen on one occasion； as he sallied
forth at daybreak； by Lothario； who； not knowing who he was； at
first took him for a spectre； but； as soon as he saw him hasten
away； muffling his face with his cloak and concealing himself
carefully and cautiously； he rejected this foolish idea； and adopted
another； which would have been the ruin of all had not Camilla found a
remedy。 It did not occur to Lothario that this man he had seen issuing
a